The national awards programme for Scottish brewing has revealed the best brewing businesses and products in its 4th annual competition.
Following a detailed judging process involving 35 expert tasters and business judges who assessed nearly 300 Scottish beers and 45 brewing businesses, the winners of 2019 Scottish Beer Awards were revealed in Edinburgh last night.
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Edinburgh-based Stewart Brewing was crowned Scottish Brewery of the Year for the second consecutive year after achieving a record year of business growth in turnover, exports and product development.
The independent brewery was also presented with the Exporter of the Year and Product Development Team of the Year awards, as well as taking away a gold and two silver medals in the taste competition.
They were followed closely by Fierce Beer who triumphed in the taste awards again this year taking home 8 taste medals, including three gold medals. There was also recognition for their head brewer, Dominique Bongers, who collected the coveted Brewer of the Year award after the judging panel specifically recognised her knowledge, innovation and skills only one year into the job.
Brewing giants BrewDog collected the top taste award of the night, Beer of the Year, for their Sleekit Sour beer. They also collected five gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals, including all 3 medals in the sour beer category following the launch of BrewDog Overworks sours plant earlier this year.
Over 350 people celebrated at the annual fixture for the brewing industry which followed a trade show and conference with speakers from the USA and Germany.
Hilary Jones, chair of the judging panel commented;
“The Scottish Beer Awards is now a firm fixture in the Scottish Brewing calendar. It is encouraging to see the sector’s continued growth and to welcome both newcomers and well-established brewers into this independent and well-respected event. 2019’s competition has again showcased the first-class products that are being brewed right here in Scotland, as well as recognising some impressive business achievements of the great people who make up our industry. On behalf of the judging panel, I extend many congratulations to all the winners and finalists in this year’s competition.”
Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, ALDI Scotland, commented:
“We are proud to be headline sponsors of the Scottish Beer Awards for the 4th consecutive year and are privileged to work with so many of the Scottish breweries recognised at this year’s awards. Scottish beer continues in its popularity and in our 25th year of having a presence in Scotland, we are especially pleased to be a part of the ongoing success of the Scottish brewing sector and look forward to working in partnership with more breweries than ever.
“The quality of beer being produced in Scotland continues to be amongst the best in the world. We congratulate this year’s winner of the Beer of the Year award, BrewDog OverWorks, along with all finalists and very worthy winners this evening.”
Other winners on the night included newcomers from Dundee, 71 Brewing who were presented with the judges award for Breakthrough Brewery, Best Beer Experience and 3 taste awards for their Pale Ale Cloud Fall, Neipa Here Nor There beer and Dundonian Pilsner.
The awards were also a fundraiser for two charities; The BEN, the Benevolent Society of the Licensed Trade of Scotland and the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, set up by rugby legend Doddie Weir to help improve the lives of those affected by Motor Neurone Disease.
THE WINNERS IN FULL
Business Awards
Scottish Brewery of the Year sponsored by Bruce Stevenson Insurance Company
Stewart Brewing
Breakthrough Brewery
71 Brewing
Brewer of the Year sponsored by Close Brothers Brewery Rentals
Dominique Bongers, Fierce Beer
Growth Business of the Year
Fierce Beer
Exporter of the Year
Stewart Brewing
Excellence in Marketing
The Innis & Gunn Brewing Co
Product Development Team of the Year sponsored by Muntons
Stewart Brewing
Best Beer Experience sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons
71 Brewing
Best Beer Event
BrewDog AGM
Taste Awards
Best Lager
GOLD Munich Red; West Brewery
SILVER Franz Lager; Stewart Brewing
BRONZE St Mungo; West Brewery
Finalists
Cashmere Lager ; Overtone Brewing
Craft Lager; Bellfield Brewery
Craft Lager; Williams Bros Brewing Co
DRK; West Brewery
Innis & Gunn Lager Beer; The Innis & Gunn Brewing Co
Marshall Amped Up Lager; Williams Bros Brewing Co
Paolozzi; Edinburgh Beer Factory
Schiehallion; Harviestoun Brewery
Stewart’s Lager; Stewart Brewing
Tennents Lager; Tennent Caledonian Breweries
Tennents Gluten Free Lager; Tennent Caledonian Breweries
Weekend Hooker; Brew Toon
Wild WEST; West Brewery
Best Pilsner
GOLD Fierce Gluten Free Pilsner; Fierce Beer
SILVER Peloton Pilsner; six°north
BRONZE 71 Lager Dundonian Pilsner; 71 Brewing
Finalists
Bearface Lager; Drygate Brewing Co
Bellfield Bohemian Pilsner; Bellfield Brewery
Craft Pilsner; Belhaven Brewery
Lost Lager; BrewDog
Pilsner; Merchant City Brewing Co
Stone’s Throw; Barney’s Beer
Best Pale Ale sponsored by Kegstar
GOLD Vagabond Pale Ale; BrewDog
SILVER Cloud Fall; 71 Brewing
BRONZE Hop Fiction; BrewDog
Finalists
Cascadian East; Stewart Brewing
Day Shift; Fierce Beer
Ferry Fair; The Ferry Brewery
Hollyrood; Stewart Brewing
Ka Pai; Stewart Brewing
New Millennium; Born in the Borders Brewery
Radical Road Reverse; Stewart Brewing
Single Hop 03: Simcoe; Fierce Beer
Talking Head; Williams Bros Brewing Co
The Ridge; Harviestoun Brewery
Vélo; six°north
Best IPA sponsored by Bairds Malt
GOLD Bright Lights; Lidl GB and Stewart Brewing
SILVER Radical Road; Stewart Brewing
BRONZE Big City; Lidl GB and Stewart Brewing
Finalists
APA; Windswept Brewing Co
Ax Man; Drygate Brewing Co
Bellfield Lawless Village IPA; Bellfield Brewery
BIG Volcano; Barney’s Beer
Brut IPA; Overtone Brewing
Brut IPA; Top Out Brewery
Dynamo; six°north
Endeavour; six°north
Gladeye IPA; Drygate Brewing Co
Harviestoun IPA; Harviestoun Brewery
Marshall Full Stack IPA; Williams Bros Brewing Co
New World IPA; Merchant City Brewing Co
Pale Keith; Keith Brewery
Punk IPA; BrewDog
Stillman’s IPA; Spey Valley Brewery
Tennents Export IPA; Tennent Caledonian Breweries
Tin Man; Williams Bros Brewing Co
Twisted Thistle IPA; Belhaven Brewery
Untitled; Edinburgh Beer Factory
Best Session Beer
GOLD Easy Shift; Fierce Beer
SILVER Bellfield Session Ale; Bellfield Brewery
BRONZE Green Monkey Wheat; Reids Gold Brewing Company
Finalists
Belhaven Best; Belhaven Brewery
Birds & Bees; Williams Bros Brewing Co
Dead Pony Club; BrewDog
Extra Pale Ale; Barney’s Beer
Harvest Moon; Born in the Borders Brewery
Hurricane; Windswept Brewing Co
Perfect Storm; ALDI and Williams Bros Brewing Co
Session IPA; The Innis & Gunn Brewing Co
Session IPA; Stewart Brewing
Seven Peaks; Drygate Brewing Co
Summer Cloud; Born in the Borders Brewery
Best British Style Ale sponsored by Wolffe
GOLD St Giles; Stewart Brewing
SILVER Ossian; Innis & Gunn Inveralmond Brewery
BRONZE GPA; West Brewery
Finalists
40/- Fine; The Ferry Brewery
80’s Revival; Coul Brewing Company
Belhaven Scottish Ale; Belhaven Brewery
David’s Not So Bitter; Spey Valley Brewery
Good Ordinary Pale Ale; Barney’s Beer
Nimbus; Altas Brewing Company
Outlaw King; Loch Leven Brewery
Best Amber or Dark Ale
GOLD Daracha; Innis & Gunn Inveralmond Brewery
SILVER Pavlov’s Dog; Williams Bros Brewing Co
BRONZE Bastard Amber; Barney’s Beer
Finalists
5am Saint; BrewDog
Broken Dial; Harviestoun Brewery
Don’t Date Robots!; Drygate Brewing Co
Ferry Alt; The Ferry Brewery
Five Sisters; Alechemy
Futurism; Edinburgh Beer Factory
King Slayer; Loch Leven Brewery
Lia Fail; Innis & Gunn Inveralmond Brewery
Red Rye; Barney’s Beer
Red Skelp; Dalrannoch Brewing
Smokey Jack; The Ferry Brewery
The Jail Ale; Brew Toon
Tornado; Windswept Brewing Co
Unit 1 Red Ale; Merchant City Brewing Co
Wolf; Windswept Brewing Co Ltd
Best Porter sponsored by Barr Printers
GOLD Zombie Cake; BrewDog
SILVER Cafe Racer; Fierce Beer
BRONZE Midnight Sun; Williams Bros Brewing Co
Finalists
Capital Porter; Barney’s Beer
Coffee Porter; Windswept Brewing Co
Thomas Miller 1875; The Ferry Brewery
Best Stout
GOLD Orinoco Mocha Milk Stout; Drygate Brewing Co
SILVER Moose Mousse; Fierce Beer
BRONZE 1806; Windswept Brewing Co Ltd
Finalists
8 Ball Stout; Reids Gold Brewing Company
Breakfast Toast; 71 Brewing
Cauld Reekie; Stewart Brewing
Chocolate Stout; Merchant City Brewing Co
Dark Skies; Drygate Brewing Co
HBC472 Stout; Overtone Brewing
Not Your Buddy, Guy!; Stewart Brewing
Old Engine Oil; Harviestoun Brewery
Scottish Oat Stout; Belhaven Brewery
Tennents Export Stout; Tennent Caledonian Breweries
Best Amplified Beer sponsored by Cara Technology
GOLD Imperial Cafe Racer; Fierce Beer
SILVER Marshall Jim’s Treble; Williams Bros Brewing Co
BRONZE Jaggery Stout; Merchant City Brewing Co
Finalists
Arrakis; Drygate Brewing Co
Auld Toon; six°north
Chapeau; six°north
Marshmallow Milk Stout; Barney’s Beer
The Night Land; Dead End Brew Machine
Best Sour Beer
GOLD Sleekit Sour; BrewDog OverWorks
SILVER Cosmic Crush Raspberry; BrewDog OverWorks
BRONZE Cosmic Crush Cherry; BrewDog OverWorks
Finalists
Aplomb Bomb; BrewDog OverWorks
Cosmic Crush Peach; BrewDog OverWorks
Cosmic Crush Quince; BrewDog OverWorks
Cosmic Crush Tropical; BrewDog OverWorks
Dream Catcher; BrewDog OverWorks
Electric Blue; BrewDog OverWorks
Exotic Burst; Campervan Brewery
Ferry Gose; The Ferry Brewery
Gooseberry Fool; BrewDog OverWorks
Hedgerow Sour; Stewart Brewing
Limoncello Soul; Brew Toon
Panavision Pink; BrewDog OverWorks
Rhus; BrewDog OverWorks
Very Berry; Fierce Beer
Wave Machine; BrewDog OverWorks
Best Fruit Forward
GOLD Elvis Juice; BrewDog
SILVER The Hoppy Botanist; Campervan Brewery
BRONZE Che Guava; Williams Bros Brewing Co
Finalists
Cranachan Killer; Fierce Beer
Disco Forklift Truck; Drygate Brewing Co
Mango Unchained; Brew Toon
Raspberry Carronade; Brew Toon
Raspberry Sun; Reids Gold Brewing Company Ltd
Rubus; Windswept Brewing Co Ltd
Rubus; ALDI and Williams Bros Brewing Co
Best Juicy or Hazy Beer
GOLD NEIPA Vic Secret; Overtone Brewing
SILVER NEIPA Here Nor There; 71 Brewing
BRONZE Dank Side of the Moon; Campervan Brewery
Finalists
4-Cs IPA; Overtone Brewing
Aqualung; Stewart Brewing
DIPA; Stewart Brewing
IPA Comet/Waimea; Overtone Brewing
Late Shift; Fierce Beer
Mandarina Sky; 71 Brewing
Pale El Dorado; Overtone Brewing
Pale Mosaic /Amarillo; Overtone Brewing
Voss IPA; Stewart Brewing
West Coast IPA; Overtone Brewing
Best Barrel Aged Beer
GOLD Bear; Windswept Brewing Co
SILVER Bourbon Ba Imperial Cafe Racer; Fierce Beer
BRONZE Glenfarclas Cask Aged Jaggery Stout; Merchant City Brewing Co
Finalists
Angels Be Damned; St Andrews Brewing Company
BA Maple Very Big Moose; Fierce Beer
Blood Red Sky; The Innis & Gunn Brewing Co
Bourbon Barrel Porter; The Innis & Gunn Brewing Co
Bring Out The Imp; Alechemy
Close Quarters; Drygate Brewing Co
Kindred Spirits; The Innis & Gunn Brewing Co
Looney Brew; The Ferry Brewery
Ola Dubh 12 year; Harviestoun Brewery
Paradox Islay; BrewDog
Rites of Passage ; Drygate Brewing Co
Speyside Oak Aged Blonde; Belhaven Brewery
The Original; The Innis & Gunn Brewing Co
Vanishing Point 02; The Innis & Gunn Brewing Co
Best Speciality Beer
GOLD Ten Ton Truck Vietnamese Coffee Edition; BrewDog
SILVER Coconut Very Big Moose; Fierce Beer
BRONZE People Like Buns; Fierce Beer
Finalists
Coconut Cookie; Reids Gold Brewing Company
Convergence #1 ; Drygate Brewing Co
Cool Beans; Barney’s Beer
First World Problems; Stewart Brewing
Funk x Punk; BrewDog OverWorks
Lemon Libertea; Brew Toon
Northern Sinner; Brew Toon
Rwandan Coffee IPA; Overtone Brewing
Yucatan Honey Wheat Wine; Top Out Brewery
